Wing structure



Maul 22, 1932;

G. M. BELLANCA WING STRUCTURE Filed June 12 1931 Patented Mar. 22,1932

PATENT I oFFlc E; I

ercsnrrn M. Bn LAnoA,.or NEW CASTLEIDELAWARE- wins s rnnomn an Application ,fil e d June 12,

This invention relates to improvements in wing structures.

In the usual type of wing which is provided with a fabric covering a strip of plywood is provided at the entering edge of the wing so as to give a positive curvature at the leading edge of the wing and insure a definiteform to the cloth or fabriccovering. But I little attention liasbeen paid to the joint formed by this veneer or nose box and the ribs of the wing. In operation of thewingthe area of the greatest reduced pressurelis relatively close to the leading edge of the wing. Durin flying the fabric covering is therefore subjected to alternations of.pres-.

sure and tends to move slightly relatively to its supporting structure, namely the ribs of the wing. In this type of wing structure,

therefore, isa danger of fracture of the wing fabric due to its forced imposition upon a relatively sharp edge or termination of the nose box or veneer at the entering edge.

-A major object: of the present invention is to provide an improved type of entering edge structure for an airplane wing;

Another object is to provide an improved.

metal wing.

Yet a further object is to providea wing structure having a fabric covering which is positively conforniechat, the leading edge, andin which the danger of cutting the fabric is minimized. V v

Withthese and other equally important objects in view the invention comprehends the provisionof a wing, preferably of metal, which at its entering or leading edge is provided with a nose piece of a stifi relatively inflexible material and which nose piece is of v a special curvature so as to minimize danger 40 of rupture of the wing. fabric. Inorder to enable a more ready comprehension of the invention, a preferred modification is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a metal wing and associated nose piece.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the devic shown in Fig. 1. I

In accordance with the present invention a wing is provided which preferably comprises metal spars, ribs and truss members.

19 1. Serial No. 544,011.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the wing preferably comprises tubular metal ribs 1 which are strengthened and rigidified by the tubular metal trusses 2'. The tubular metal ribs 1 are shown for only the forward portion of the wing,but it is to be clearly understood that the ribs extend rearwardly to also form the rearward portion of the wing. As shown in the drawings, the wing is of the full-truss diagonal type, although it is to be understood that other forms of wings, such assemi-truss or full-truss, diagonal'and vertical, may be employed. 'Likewise it will be understood that if desired the inventionmay include the use ofdiagonal bracing tubes in a manner well uderstood by those skilled in the art. 1 Any metal having the desired characterlstics of a high ratio of strength to weight may be employed. Preferable types of metals are the light weight ferrous alloys of the duralumin type. The wing is provided with front and rear spars, only the front spar being shown in the drawings. The spars inay preferably comprise two longitudinally extending tubular members 3 which are integrally joined toan intermediate web4, of any desired configuration. The tubes 3 and 4 may be integrally joined together by'an autogenous weld. The ribs 1 are preferably welded Y to the front spar, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. This type of structure forms, as is known, a very satisfactory strong and rigid wing skeleton.

Associated with the'wing is the nose piece 7 This may be of ply-wood but preferably is composed of a sheet of dural or other light weight metaL- As shown in Figures 1 and 2," this nose piece abuts the forward ends of-the ribs 1 and extends rearwardly ofthe leading orentering edge a substantialdistance on'the upper and lower surfaces of the wing. At 1 the leading-edge the nose piece is asubstantially continuous surface. Near its terminationsat the upper and lower surfaces the nose piece is out out, at 9, as clearly shown in Fig. i 1, so as, to permit the: ends, of the nose piece to extend below "the surface of-the ribs 1..

In order tomaintain the nose piece 7 ina;

fixed; position relatiyeto the wing frame, the r longitudinal metallic tubes 5 and 6 are provided. While these are shown as of solid construction they obviously may be hollow tubular members. The ends of the nose piece are secured to the rods 5 and 6 in any desired manner. In the preferred form of the invention each end 8 of the nose piece is curved about the rods 5 and 6. If desired, the curved portion 8 of the nose piece may be welded to the bars 5 and 6 at any desired point. The rod members 5 and 6 may be rigidly secured to the ribs 1 by welding.

It will be seen from this description that the nose piece 7 forms a rigid entering edge of the wing and that when the fabric is applied to the wing, in the usual manner, a definite form is given to the cloth at the entering edge. However, unlike prior structures, the edge or termination of the nose piece does not contact with the fabric. The nose piece adjacent its ends is given a shorter radius of curvature than its adjacent flatter sections so that the fabric, even under maximum flexure, will not contact with a sharp edge. This is done, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, by so-tospeak depressing the ends of the nose piece considerably below the contour of the wing, as defined by the upper surface of the ribs 1. Therefore, when the wing fabric flexes due to variations in pressure thereon, such flexure will occur in the area adjacent the termination of the nose piece, but under the most severe conditions of flexure the fabric will not encounter a sharp edge of a sub acent surface. In operation,'therefore, the wing fabric always abutsa substantially flat surface which presents no cutting or fraying.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this is given merely as exemplary of the principles of the invention, and since this may be embodied in other specific forms of structures it is not intended to be limited to that shown and described except as such limitations are clearly imposed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wing structure comprising a spar positioned adjacent the leading edge of a wing,

- ribs associated with the spar, a nose piece of rigid material positioned at the leading edge of the wing and extending an appreciable distance rearwardly on the upper and lower surface of the wing, the nose piece being de pressed ad acent its terminatlon so as to assume a position spaced inwardly from the wing ribs.

2. A wing structure comprising a leading spar and associated ribs composed of a light weight high strength metal, a metallic nose piece forming the entering edge of the wing, the nose piece being positioned above the ribs at the entering edge, and being positioned below the ribs near its terminations.

3. A wing structure comprising a wing having suitable spars and ribs, a nose piece for the wing, a portion of the nose piece project ing outwardly of the ribs and another portion being spaced inwardly of the ribs.

4. A wing structure comprising a longitudinal leading spar and associated ribs, a nose piece of rigid material supported on the outer surfaces of the ribs and having a part projecting inwardly of the ribs, and a fabric covering attached to the wing.

5. A wing structure comprising metal spars and ribs, a metal nose piece supported at the leading edge of the wing on the outer surfaces of the ribs and terminating rearwardly of the leading edge, the terminations of the nose piece being depressed below the exterior contour of the wing as defined by the ribs.

6. A wing structure comprising metal spars and ribs, a metal nose piece supported at the leading edge of the Wing on the outer surfaces of the ribs and terminating rearwardly of the leading edge, the terminations of the nose piece being depressed below the exterior contour of the wing as defined by the ribs, and a fabric covering overlying the nose piece andribs.

7 A wing structure comprising spars and ribs oftubular formation welded together, a sheet metal nose piece attached to the leading edge of the wing and supported by the ribs, the ends of the nose piece extending inwardly of the ribs, a longitudinal member supporting each of the terminal ends of the nose piece, the longitudinal members being secured to the underside of the ribs.

8. A wing structure comprising spars and ribs of tubular formation welded together, a sheet metal nose piece attached to the leading edge of the wing and supported by the ribs, the ends of the nose piece extending inwardly of the ribs, a longitudinal member supporting each of the terminal ends of the nose piece, the longitudinal members being secured to the underside of the ribs, and a fabric cover overlying the nose piece and ribs.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature GIUSEPPE M. BELLANCA. 

